CASUARINA Cas`u*a*ri"na, n. Etym: [NL., supposed to be named from the resemblance of the twigs to the feathers of the cassowary, of the genus Casuarius.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of leafles trees or shrubs, with drooping branchlets of a rushlike appearance, mostly natives of Australia. Some of them are large, producing hard and heavy timber of excellent quality, called beefwood from its color.
CASUIST
Cas"u*ist, n. Etym: [L. casus fall, case; cf. F. casuiste. See
Casual.]
Defn: One who is skilled in, or given to, casuistry. The judment of any casuist or learned divine concerning the state of a man's soul, is not sufficient to give him confidence. South.
CASUIST
Cas"u*ist, v. i.
Defn: To play the casuist. Milton.
CASUISTIC; CASUISTICAL
Cas`u*is"tic, Cas`u*is"tic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to casuists or casuistry.
CASUISTRY
Cas"u*ist*ry, a.
1. The science or doctrine of dealing with cases of conscience, of resolving questions of right or wrong in conduct, or determining the lawfulness or unlawfulness of what a man may do by rules and principles drawn from the Scriptures, from the laws of society or the church, or from equity and natural reason; the application of general moral rules to particular cases. The consideration of these nice and puzzling question in the science of ethics has given rise, in modern times, to a particular department of it, distinguished by the title of casuistry. Stewart. Casuistry in the science of cases (i.e., oblique deflections from the general rule). De Quincey.